BBFC and Age Classification

When classifying a film, the BBFC take different factors into consideration. These factors are:

• Context - public expectations taken into consideration
• Theme - which age the theme is suitable for and how this theme is dealt with within the film
• Tone and impact - the overall feel of the film impacts the classification and how the audience will react towards the film
• Drugs - films which glamorise the use of drugs will be rated higher than those which reveal the dangers of them while legal drugs can be shown in any rated film but will be highlighted before to warn parents
• Discrimination - any discrimination within films will push the classification up however the context will also effect this, and if it is behaviour which is criticised the classification may be lower
• Imitable behaviour - glamorisation of violence, weapons, criminal behaviour, suicide or anything that young people may copy will be taken into consideration 
• Language - the effect of this varies hugely due to the context the word is used in and what sort of bad language it is (eg swearing or racist language vary hugely)
• Nudity - acceptable in a non sexual way in all classifications but a U
• Sex - ranges hugely but anything explicit will generally be an automatic 18, however kissing is acceptable in all age classifications, although can be a concern in the junior categories
• Threat - the length of the scene will be considered as well as the impact the music and sound has, as well as the outcome (horror films specifically take into consideration the supernatural elements and the realism of the scene, and how unsettling the overall product is)
• Violence - can be found in almost all the classifications but it will be driven up if the hero is inflicting pain, someone finds pleasure in the pain, the violence is glamorised, is it encourages aggression, unnecessary violence towards victims or if violence is portrayed as the normal solution to problems - films which feature sexual or sadistic violence in a positive or graphic way can be refused to be classified
• Educational purposes (if a video will be used in school the context and educational value will be taken into consideration)
• Photo sensitivity/motion sickness/reactions to low frequency sounds (warning must be given to viewers who may suffer from these conditions)

There are 6 main classifications: 
U
Universal films are suitable for all audiences aged four or over and should feature a generally positive outlook with any violence or threat counterbalanced.
-No discrimination (possibly if it is highly disapproved of)
-Infrequent references to drugs if any
-No anti social behaviour (unless disapproved of) and no weapons
-Infrequent mild bad language
-No sexual content but kissing allowed
-Nudity allowed with no sexual connotations
-Threatening scenes should be mild and brief
-Mild violence

PG
Parental guidance means it is generally okay for everyone but some young children may be unsettled
-No discrimination unless disapproved of or has an educational/historical context
-Illegal drug use must have a anti drug message
-No detailed dangerous behaviour that children may copy
-Mild bad language
-Sexual content may be implied however must be infrequent
-No nudity with sexual content
-Frightening scenes should not be long or intense
-Violence must be mild but could be moderate should there be contextual justification

12A/12
Similar content however a 12A cannot be seen by anyone under 12 not accompanied by an adult
-Discrimination cannot be endorsed
-Misuse of drugs infrequent and not glamorised
-No dangerous behaviour which could be easily copied
-Sexual content of nudity must be quick and discrete
-Moderate sexual references are allowed and sexual activity may be portrayed quickly however no crude behaviour
-Moderate physical and psychological threat but not overall disturbing tone - horror sequences must not be too long
-Moderate violence but not too detailed

15
No one under 15 can watch or buy a film with this classification
-Discrimination cannot be endorsed but may be used as a theme
-Drug use can be shown but should not encourage drug use - easily accessible drugs may not be permitted such as solvents
-Dangerous behaviour can be shown but should not be focused on and it will depend upon the realism of the situation
-Strong language is permitted but context should be considered
-Nudity can be shown in a sexual way but generally not too detailed
-Strong verbal references to sexual behaviour can be used but sexual activity should be at a minimum
-Strong horror allowed but sadistic behaviour may need reconsidered
-Violence can be strong but the focus should not be on the infliction of pain

18
Only adults can see films with an 18 rating
-Adults are free to choose their entertainment so any film can fit this category as long as it is not in breech of the law, the material cannot harm others or if the sexual nature of the film breaks the BBFC guidelines

I think my film is likely to be rated a 15. While it doesn't endorse discrimination, drug use and it doesn't include any sexual scenes, the actual horror side of it probably pushes it out of the 12 bracket. The majority of the film will be a horror sequence and the 12 classification specifies threat cannot be shown over a long period in that category, while in the 15 it can be shown as long it is not considered sadistic. There is also the suicide and weapon use element which is restricted much more strictly in the classifications below 15, and this is something which is featured in the film, weapons being used throughout and the conclusion is a suicide. 

Audience Research - Questionnaires

I have created questionnaires which I have handed out and received 19 responses from. The questionnaire featured both general questions about horror films and once specific to the product I am looking to create, such as the one about plot twists and the gender of the antagonist.

Most of the people I asked using the face to face questionnaire were male, so when looking at my feedback I should keep this in mind as the majority answer on each question may have changed depending on which gender was asked.

I asked people who were in my target audience to fill in the questionnaire, so most of the people were 17. This is a very large majority so again this could impact the results I gathered. Our target audience is likely to be from the age of 15, so this is not the most effective market research as it doesn't show the younger people in my demographics opinions.

We asked people how often they watched horror films and most people said monthly. This shows most people in my target audience are not hardcore horror fans, but rather watch them occasionally maybe when a new one comes out or when they're with their friends. Less than quarter said they never watched them or only watched them yearly, which shows our target audience are generally fans of horror and do watch them, so we are aiming it at the right market.

Most people said they prefer high budget films, which obviously we cannot do. However, this does give an insight into what people look for in horror films - they want it to be high quality with expensive tricks and stunts which add either gore or supernatural elements to the film. 

Nearly everyone we asked, except two, said they believe footage which appears to have been shot by a character is effective in a film and this is good as this is what we were planning to do. 

This question was open and therefore received a lot of different responses. Surprisingly, a lot of people said similar answers, with over quarter saying jump scares were the thing which they feared most in horror films. After this, the supernatural and the unknown were the most commonly said answers, with the rest having one person saying it.  

Everyone agreed that plot twists are exciting in a film except one, and therefore the idea we  are going with will be appreciated by the majority of our target audience and we will not have to change our plan.

Our film is likely to be classified as a teen horror, which was the second most popular answer. The first was psychological horror, and this is something we may have to try and fit into our film somehow. One person said thriller and no one said supernatural, which is surprising however does not impact our trailer as we are avoiding these genres.

Over three quarters of the people we asked said they liked plot twists which is good because this is in our plan as a key element of our film. This shows our target audience will be engaged in the film and will not be disappointed if the plot is unpredictable.

Our film is going to feature a female villain and a male villain, however the female villain will be the surprise within the film. We wanted to make sure that this will be unexpected, but also that the target audience would not be completely put off by this. The results were more people like a male antagonist, which we will have, but the difference was not drastic and therefore out idea can remain the same.

For questions 5 and 7 we asked for reasons why they felt that way which obviously varied and could not be included in charts. The reasons stated on the questionnaires are below.

5. Do you think that home footage featured in horror films is effective? Please state why.

-It gets annoying if the film is too long

-Doesn't show other points of view'

-Most classic films use found footage

-Makes it scarier and empathises point

-Captures footage as if the audience is there

-Creates suspense

-Realistic

-Mystery within the film

-Can look unprofessional

-Audience feels more involved

-Audience gets more attached to the characters

-See characters point of view

-First person perspective makes audience feel involved

-Scene needs to be set well

7. Do you find plot twists exciting and thrilling in  horror films? Please state why.

-Breaks pattern of horrors being predictable

-Makes you reevaluate what you have watched

-Keeps the film exciting

-Changes the whole course of the film

-Keeps audience engaged in the plot

-Not entirely necessary as a good plot can stand by itself

-Unexpected element adds more thrill and mystery

-Cannot guess what will happen next - exciting

-Makes the film more original and memorable 

Why is Horror Appealing

People watch horror for different reasons including:
-To feel fear but not be in danger
-Adrenaline
-Feeling of accomplishment
-Interest in the supernatural

I have looked at an article called 'The Psychologist' and it outlined these reasons for watching horror:

-it allows us to rehearse possible threatening scenarios from a position of relative safety

-successful horror fiction is usually realistic in its portrayals of human psychology and relationships.

-the pleasure comes from the relief that follows once characters escape danger

-‘Frequent depictions of women in prolonged states of terror may reinforce traditional gender schemas of women as helpless and, as a result, may serve to normalise aggression or hostile attitudes toward women,’ Walsh and Brantford said.

In our horror film we will be going against the typical horror film convention as the female is in fact the person to be feared, not the man, which will add a twist to our film.

Patterson (an assistant professor of English and co-director of Medieval, Renaissance, and Reformation Studies at Saint Joseph’s University) says horror builds on real life fears, and this changes as events in the world occur. For example, post 9/11 films featured torture, as a way to cope with the tragedy and zombie films may become popular after a break out of influenza which could potentially harm whole populations.
-high sensation seekers enjoy horror as it heightens emotions, even negative ones, and this gives them a rush of excitement
-men want to appear more masculine and brave  

Horror Research - Promotion

I have researched advertising campaigns that horror films have used. I found newer films used much more, due to the increased use of social networking, and that The Blair Witch Project was a turning point for the way horror films were advertised. It was difficult to find much information on films made before this.


The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
-Advertised as a ‘true story’ to boost sales although link to the serial killer it is said to be based on is weak

-Full sized bill board ads are used to advertise

-A promotional trailer was created and shown at the cinema for other films

-When recreated in 2013 there was more advertising with magazine adverts/trailers/poster and billboard ads 

The Blair Witch Project 1999

Budget - $60,000

Opening Weekend - $1,512,054 (USA)

Gross - $14,901,157 (USA)

Target Audience - Mainly appealing to tech savvy people through the use on online advertising however the film has since reached cult status and by its ten year anniversary the advertising was aimed at a wide target audience with no real age or gender limits

-Small budget but known as ‘best viral advertising campaign’ - revolutionised viral advertising

-Haxan films create a website for the film which outlines the story behind the legend the film is based around - home footage appears and the website is scary in itself - creates a second world and makes the film seem like real life

-Released at Sundance and the rights were brought by Artisan = more budget ($1 million on promotion before official release)

-Website updated to celebrate the ten year anniversary

-Posted on blogs and forums with little bits of information about the legend building excitement and creating a sense of realism

-Low budget trailers are produced - shown on college campuses and the sci-fi channel = this creates a feeling that this film is not mainstream and that the audience have stumbled upon something secret and special

-Before film release IMDb had the actors listed as ‘missing, presumed dead’ and missing person leaflets were handed out creating a sense of realism around the film

The Woman in Black 2012
Budget - $17,000,000
Opening Weekend - $20,874,072 (USA)
Gross - $54,322,273 (USA)
Target Audience - different ages and genders were targeted throughout this whole campaign as they mainly used the interest in Daniel Radcliffe and his first role outside of Harry Potter as a selling point, as well as the already famous storyline from the book by Susan Hill

-Changed the film for UK release in order to qualify for 12A rating (6 seconds cut and scenes blackened/sound level reduced) = wider target audience/also trying to appeal to children

-Book and play fan following = automatic target audience

-Daniel Radcliffe fans (posters featuring him not the woman in black) - Harry Potter fans want to see 'Harry Potter' in a new and different role

-Social media - facebook and twitter set up and website created - this would appeal to the younger generations (website had different trailers on it with more about the plot)

-Phase one teaser trailer - The King’s Speech DVD

-Phase two teaser trailer - Harry Potter (fans of all ages - most popular film franchise of all time = huge market)

-Halloween competition on Youtube - win Harry Potter merch and tickets to Premiere - again cashing in on the celebrity status and huge amount of fans the lead actor has

-New poster released in January - month before premiere

-NME/Hollyoaks/FHM/4od/MTV/E4 - target young people

-Twitter/IMDb/film four/ITV1 and 2/Comedy Central - Broader audience

-Advertising on channels with programmes such as Gossip Girl/Big Brother/National TV Awards/The Only Way is Essex to gain popularity - young people mainly targeted but also adults with The Jonathan Ross Show and the National TV Awards

-Bus stops which young and old people see as they use them most frequently

-Posters on buildings which people pass everyday

-Newspapers ads which target a more educated demographic

Propp Character Theory

My Product - Plot Summary

I have decided to work in a pair to create my product as it will give me access to a wider skill set and also will be very helpful during the brainstorming stage, and together we have come up with the storyline the whole film will follow. From this we will decide what parts should feature in our trailer and how to get a sense of the plot into the trailer.

Our film is going to be focused around a murder which happened approximately one year before the film is taking place. The murderer will be one of the dead girls best friends, however they have never been caught and no one knows that it was her, not even the other friends. One year later the five girls are getting on with their lives, until one day a boy who was infatuated with the girl before she died holds them hostage and tortures them until they admit who killed her. 

The film will start in school, with the five girls going about their normal day-to-day lives. During the day at school, someone is watching them however they do not notice and the audience do not see their face, leading them to believe this is the antagonist of the film and the person to fear. In this characters locker is a shrine to the dead girl, making it clear from the start he was obsessed and making him appear sinister and stalker like. This is a twist on the false hero theory as this appears to be the antagonist however by the end we know he is trying to get a twisted form of justice and the murderer is in fact the villain.

The girls are then kidnapped by the stalker, who takes one and then texts the rest to meet her and holds them all hostage in an abandoned house just outside the town they live in. He ties the five girls to chairs and begins to tell them about his love for their friend. At this point in the film he will appear utterly deranged and there will be no doubt he had something to do with the murder. He is wearing a bracelet, which belonged to the girl who died and as the film progresses it becomes clear she wore it the night she died.

Throughout the film he forces them to hurt each other and hurts them himself. To begin with they are defiant and fight back but as he starts forcing them to tell the truth about the night their friend died they become more and more willing to play the game as they want to uncover the truth themselves. It will appear that they are all guilty at different points, as none of them have been fully honest about that night and the whole film will feature flashbacks of that night and of them all having fun together when they were friends, which contrast hugely and make the murder appear even worse. During the flashbacks of the night the girl was killed, items will be seen and things will be said which make each character seem guilty and the truth of all of their whereabouts that night become clear. It will almost become a 'truth or dare' style game as he tries to find out who killed the girl, forcing the girls to tell him what happened for face being tortured.

Eventually the girl who killed the other admits it when he nearly kills her with the promise he will release them and let them get medical help for the wounds inflicted. He does not keep this promise however and kill that girl and then himself. The other girls are then left there, tied up at the end of the film.